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Elective surgery postponed, end of life visits "on a case by case basis"

Elective surgery postponed, end of life visits

Monday 25 January 2021

Elective surgery postponed, end of life visits "on a case by case basis"

Monday 25 January 2021


All elective surgery scheduled for this week has been postponed and a decision on future appointments is expected in the next few days.

Any emergency surgery at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital will still take place, however end of life visits will be judged on a "case by case" basis.

Islanders who have to attend the Emergency Department or other areas of the hospital will be asked to social distance and will see staff wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The Medical Specialist Group will switch to telephone and web appointments for outpatients where possible, and will use PPE to see people who need urgent consultations.

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Pictured: The Medical Specialist Group will switch to virtual appointments for outpatients and will only see patients requiring urgent care. 

HSC say that medical supplies such as PPE are "sufficient for enhanced use both in health and social care facilities and the private care home sector."

Committee President Al Brouard said Brock Ward can be turned into to a ‘hot’ Covid-19 ward within an hour.

HSC say that extra staff have been brought in to the scheduling and swabbing teams to help manage any increase in demand. 

"End of life visits will be considered on a case-by-case basis"

Health and care premises are closed to visitors with immediate effect. HSC say that end of life visits will be considered on a case by case basis.

"This is not a decision that has been taken lightly," said Deputy Brouard. "The safety of our community is paramount and these emergency measures reduce any risk to our health and care services whilst we have unexplained community transmission.

"I know that these decisions will be disappointing for those who have been preparing for surgery in the coming weeks. Officers will be in touch as soon as they can to rearrange all appointments that have been postponed."

Guernsey has today gone into a "hard" lockdown that largely replicates all of the community restrictions and non-pharmaceutical measures that were in plan last week. 

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